Rural Life and History

W.H. Illingworth photos of the Black Hills turn 150 years old

SDPB Radio | By Ari Jungemann,

Published July 30, 2024 at 9:54 AM CDT

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Column of wagons used by the U.S. 7th Cavalry. Illingworth’s wagon, carrying his photography equipment and the glass plates, is shown near the center of the image. South Dakota State Historical Society (2015-11-23-301) — Column of wagons used by the U.S. 7^th Cavalry. Illingworth’s wagon, carrying his photography equipment and the glass plates, is shown near the center of the image. South Dakota State Historical Society (2015-11-23-301)

This interview originally aired on "In the Moment" on SDPB Radio.

The South Dakota State Historical Society is commemorating the 150th anniversary of W.H. Illingworth's Black Hills photographs.

Photographer William H. Illingworth traveled with Custer's 1874 expedition to the Black Hills. Illingworth captured around seventy images of both the landscape and members of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment.

South Dakota State Archives photo archivist, Matthew Reitzel, joins "In the Moment" to share about the historical significance of the photos.

Photos in the collection are scanned for viewing at South Dakota Digital Archives.